A twelve-year-old student at Buddy Taylor Middle School was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill another student. According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the threat came over text message on Monday.
Unlike Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, the FCSO under Sheriff Rick Staly’s leadership withheld the identity of the juvenile despite the seriousness of her alleged crime. Chitwood has employed the tactic of naming and showcasing kids as young as eleven who’re charged with threats against schools in hopes that it will deter the practice.
According to the FCSO’s report, the suspect was a student through Florida’s Home Education program, and was texting with a boy who was apparently a former boyfriend. The conversation evidently turned to the two getting back together. During the exchange she’s said to have told him “I’m coming back to school with a big knife, if you get back with me, I won’t kill you, but you don’t, your dead”.
The school resource deputy working at BTMS was made aware by the dean’s office of the threat, and took a statement from the boy it was sent to. He then communicated with FCSO Deputy Jordan Taylor, who met with the suspect. She was arrested for written/electronic threat to kill or harm.
This marks the second incident in a week at BTMS, following an alleged threat by a 13-year-old girl to carry out a school shooting. She was said to have posted to social media that those who went to school that day should expect to die.
“Today’s nonsense comes at a time when schools not just in Flagler County but across the state are dealing with threats of violence at schools, often unfounded,” Staly said. “Parents be the Sheriff of your home, so I don’t have to be. We have zero tolerance for threats. Teach your children how to properly handle life’s ups and downs, relationships, and disagreements. It will help them throughout their life and keep them from being arrested. We don’t like arresting your son or daughter, but [if] you threaten violence at a Flagler County school you will be arrested regardless of how old you are.”
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
